U.S. Exports Edge Higher; Pork Net Sales Show Signs of Rebound

U.S. pork exports for the week of July 22-28 totaled 18,800 metric tons (mt), up 1 percent from the previous week and 2 percent above the previous four-week average. Increases to Japan (4,440 mt, +7 percent), Canada (1,570 mt, +16 percent), South Korea (1,290 mt, +7 percent), Hong Kong (1,200 mt, +30 percent), Australia (830 mt, +65 percent), Chile (270 mt, +31 percent) and the Philippines (220 mt, +76 percent and the largest since May) offset lower exports to Mexico (6,100 mt, -4 percent), China (2,010 mt, -29 percent) and Colombia (290 mt, -9 percent).

Pork net sales were 14,500 mt, up 35 percent from the previous week and 31 percent above the previous four-week average. Sales increased to Japan (5,170 mt, +48 percent and the largest since April), Korea (2,320 mt, +172 percent), Australia (1,250 mt, +232 percent), China (230 mt, following three weeks of negative net sales) and the Philippines (30 mt, +3 percent). Sales slowed to Mexico (2,620 mt, -53 percent), Canada (1,160 mt, -18 percent), Hong Kong (500 mt, -34 percent), Colombia (390 mt, -6 percent), and sales to Chile were just 1 mt.

U.S. beef exports totaled 14,600 mt, up 2 percent from the previous week and 9 percent above the previous four-week average. Exports declined to Japan (4,540 mt, -5 percent) and Canada (1,020 mt, -20 percent), but increased to other main destinations including Korea (3,930 mt, +18 percent), Mexico (1,920 mt, +15 percent and the largest since May), Taiwan (1,210 mt, +43 percent and the largest since 2010) and Hong Kong (1,170 mt, +24 percent).

Beef net sales were 10,300 mt, down 50 percent from the previous week’s large volume and 35 percent below the previous four-week average. Increased sales to Taiwan (1,580 mt, +29 percent) were outweighed by slower sales to Korea (2,470 mt, -38 percent), Japan (2,180 mt, -50 percent), Mexico (1,410 mt, -44 percent), Hong Kong (1,480 mt, -19 percent) and Canada (750 mt, -25 percent).

Source: USDA/FAS (includes exports and sales of whole muscle cuts).
Percent change is compared to the previous four-week average, unless otherwise noted.
Export is defined as an actual shipment from the U.S. to a foreign country.
Export sale is defined as a transaction entered into between a reporting exporter and a foreign buyer. Sales can be cancelled or adjusted in following weeks, thus “net” sales are reported as the difference between new sales and any cancellations or adjustments.